Ivette Guillermo-McGahee

Ivette Guillermo-McGahee, is the founder and CEO of Allies In Caring, a New Jersey nonprofit offering for the past 12 years, a continuum of behavioral health services for under-resourced individuals living in poverty, immigrants and individuals with disabilities. The services provided include In-home crisis interventions, telehealth treatment, and prevention and skill-building programs. Additionally, Ivette is a consultant in developing the capacity to provide equal access to health resources in NJ. She served on the design team for the NJ Public Health Institute, The Elevating Equity in NJ program, and currently, two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s programs that promote health equity in NJ and nationwide; The Jenga Council, as well as the Health Equity Narrative Lab. As a Community Power leader, Ivette is exploring competition, which prioritizes personal “I-power”, and what it takes to move towards collaboration, which prioritizes the power of “we”, “Community-power”. Through small experiments, reflection, and critical evaluations, with her team she is operationalizing ways to wield influence that leverage individual power and promote cooperation, leading to the unleashing of the potential that lies both in the individuals and the community. Ivette’s experience as a Mexican-born child of Deaf parents (CODA) and sister of two Deaf siblings, has provided a profound understanding of the potential for growth that lies within the hardships that are a part of the human experience. Mrs. Guillermo-McGhee is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is also an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Her professional training includes a Master in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University, D.C. Her post-graduate training includes Multicultural Therapy, Systems Centered Therapy (SCT), Trauma Focus – CBT, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions. Additionally, she studies and practices Theory U and Social Presenting Theater.